ما لي ولِلاْفتقار في بَلَدي

أُفٍّ لِدهرِي وعيشيَ النَكِدِ

Why must I suffer in my homeland,

Sighing for my wretched life?

قَدْ ركبتنيَ الديونُ واشْتملَتْ

عَلَى فؤادي بالهَمِّ والكمدِ

Debts have overburdened me,

My heart is gripped with toil and grief.

وكان صَدْري من قبل ذَا سِعةٍ

فَضَاقَ صَدري لِضيقِ ذَاتِ يدي

Once my chest had ample space,

Now it's tight, my means depleted.

قَالوا تَلَطّفْ واحْتَلْ فقلتُ لهمْ

قَلَّ اصْطِباري وخانني جَلَدي

"Be gentle," they advised, "negotiate."

I've scant endurance, nerve defeated.

وليس يُغْني شَيئاً دَهَا ثُعَلٍ

والمالُ مِنّي في جَبْهةٍ الأسدِ

No good mere fox holes can provide,

Wealth from me the lions did snatch.

وبعد ذَا كلَّه فَلي ثقَةٌ

وحُسنُ ظنٍّ بالواحدِ الصَّمدِ

Yet still in the One God I confide,

His mercy for all does match.

فَهو الَّذي بالأنَامِ قاطِبةً

أَشْفقُ مِن والدٍ على ولَدٍ

For people universally,

He cares more than dad for a lad.